Over two fifths (44%) of UK office workers report sometimes or always experiencing feeling burnt out while at work, a new nationwide survey has revealed.
Theย Digital Detoxย survey, conducted by Just Eat for Business, uncovers workersโ habits towards breaks and computer use, focusing on screen time. The study also includes expert comments on the mental impact of skipping breaks, and offers advice on how to combat it. The survey included responses from over 200 UK workers, and were segmented by job role (business owners/C-suite, management team and executive).
When asked whether theyโve ever felt burnout – described as โa state of physical and mental exhaustion which can occur when one experiences chronic workplace stressโ, 44% of UK workers responded affirmatively, suggesting two fifths of workers need a break from work.
Workersโ experiences of burnout differs from role to role, with those working in management accounting for the highest proportion (46%) of those whoโve suffered from the โoccupational phenomenonโ (defined by the World Health Organization).
While those in management positions account for the highest proportion of workers whoโve experienced burnout overall, those working at an executive level have seen the biggest increase of late – reporting a 21% rise in feeling burnt out over the last year.
The survey also asked workers how often they find themselves skipping breaks – such as lunch or hourly screen breaks – to draw parallels between work habits and feeling burnt out.
This revealed that over a third (36%) of workers are skipping more lunch breaks now than last year, while 1 in 5 workers check platforms like Slack every hour – even when not at work.
There appears to be a correlation between those who skip breaks and those who feel burnt out, with 73% of workers who report feeling burnout also admitting they donโt take a break until lunch, while 46% donโt stop looking at their screen until the end of the working day.
And with work from home advice now at employersโ discretion, the focus is on them to encourage regular screen breaks to avoid these mental health repercussions.
Dr Anneli Gascoyne, Associate Professor in Occupational Psychology at Goldsmiths University, commented on the impact of excessive screen time, both at work and home:ย โWhen weโre focusing our attention on our screens, weโre using physical and psychological resources (including energy, motivation and concentration) even if we donโt realise it. Like batteries, these resources arenโt in limitless supply, and need to be recharged.
โYet, we often find ourselves taking breaks from our computer screens by scrolling on another screen, via our phones, and then in the evening we take a break from our phones by watching telly (or perhaps attempting both at the same time!)
โThese arenโt the restorative activities we might think they are. They might feel pretty mindless, but theyโre still hooking our attention. And we then find that, when we put our head on the pillow at night, all the concerns and ideas of the day start to flood into our awareness, when we should be sleeping.โ
Dr Brad McKenna (University of East Anglia) and Dr Wenjie Cai (University of Greenwich), offer some solutions that both employers could implement in order to promote breaks, and reduce screen time:ย โEmployers could create new organisational policies and implementations such as requiring digital wellbeing to be integrated into operational strategies. These could be pitched as โtake a breakโ strategies which should be supported by senior management and implemented throughout the organisation.
โThere could also be messages put into company IT systems, for example, a message might pop up saying โremember to take a breakโ and companies could consider alternative ways of working away from the screen.โ
Rosie Hyam, People Partner atย Just Eat for Business adds to the expert commentary, saying: โRegardless of how teams are working – whether itโs in the office, at home, or a hybrid solution – itโs essential to take regular breaks. Without these, itโs not surprising that so many workers are feeling more burnt out than before.
โGiven the emphasis currently being placed on health and wellbeing, itโs important that employers and employees prioritise sustainable and healthy working habits – including taking more regular screen breaks, and setting time aside to socialise with colleagues.
โOrganisations may want to consider organising regular events that encourage time away from screens, and offer opportunities for team bonding – such as weekly catered in-office lunches, or food deliveries for at-home workers.โ
Other key findings of the survey included how often workers put in overtime per week, and why employees may feel pressured to check work notifications outside of office hours.
